I held my first Mosaic Workshop on April 27, and it was truly amazing to see the exquisite creations the visiting artists created. We started in my front studio, where my paper ladders and paper pieces were spread out on my work table. I had transformed my family room into an artists’ studio because my regular studio could not accommodate 5 to 8 guest artists.

My goal with my workshops is to create the workshop that I would like to attend. Since I don’t like carrying a lot of stuff around, I duplicated my own work environment for each artist as closely as I could. Each artist had her own magnifying lamp, easel, cork board, paper trimmer, scissors – all the tools needed to create a stunning mosaic. I had more than 200 different Chiyogami papers available for them to choose from. Part of the fun for me was watching Fran, Patty, Diane, Shawn and Katherine falling in love with Chiyogami paper. They didn’t even seem to notice the coffee, tea, iced tea, banana bread and deviled eggs that were waiting for them when they arrived. Clearly, it was all about the paper!

Coffee, Tea, Banana Bread

Since I also don’t like packing up a lunch, so I provided a healthy lunch of vegan minestrone soup, salad and french bread. Filtered water, coffee, tea, iced tea, banana bread, and deviled eggs were available throughout the day, too.

I remembered my first time in Japantown at the Kinyokuniya Store – probably in 1996 or so. The store had nowhere near 200 papers to choose from, but what was there was a visual feast! I ended up with only three patterns on that first adventure, and I still have them. If you had told me then where those three papers would lead, I never would have believed you. What a journey it has been. And now, the workshops give me a way to share it.

It was a truly lovely day on Saturday, April 13, in Montgomery Village. It felt like Spring had sprung, and that it was here to stay. And there I was, in my new booth, and it was my first event of the 2013 season.

The music was exquisite! Sarah Baker played most of the afternoon, and I sat in my booth, in the springtime warmth, savoring a soft breeze, soaking in her wonderful music. Several of my friends stopped by to see me – some had planned the visit because it is one of my few local events this year. Others came to shop and were surprised to find me there. I enjoy surprising them!

It’s always fun to do these local events. I never know who is going to show up.

Pam, the Leopard

One of the highlights at this event was Pam, the woman on stilts. She never fails to surprise and delight me. Her costume creations fascinate and inspire me – where does she come up with her costume ideas! She has such creativity. And there is truly something magical that she brings to these events – I can’t help but stare at her, so amazingly tall, walking among mere mortals with grace, style and ease. She makes it look so easy that … well, honestly I’m not really tempted to try it. She just makes it look easy!

This is the first costume she wore when she glided by my booth like a gazelle. She looked like a leopard, and she was most gracious to post for this photo. I realized after she left that I had missed a perfect “product placement” moment with her and the store behind her, and I vowed to capture it the next time she happened by.

Last July, I decided that I needed more shelves in my booth for boxes because they have become so popular. Shortly after that, I walked past my “dream booth” at an event in Los Altos, and I noticed that the shelving was different from what I had seen. I had chatted with these vendors before, and I knew they had two identical booths because they did shows together and separately. When I asked her about the shelves, she explained that they had them custom made. She then told me that she and her husband would no longer be doing shows separately, so — be still my heart — they were selling one of their booths. She said it was just like the one I was looking at, only dark gray. They hadn’t yet advertised it.

Soooooo … one thing led to another …. and my new booth debuted at the Montgomery Village Earth Day/Day on the Green Celebration on April 13. Boy, is she pretty. The shelves hold more boxes and they break the booth down into smaller viewing areas so that each piece of artwork has space to breathe. I think the gray also accentuates the art better than the color of the other booth. What do you think?

So look for me in my new gray booth at upcoming events and festivals. I hope you like my new look as much as I do.